Besides all that, I’m trying to make myself focus more on my studies. I’ll need to get into grad school and then get a real job someday. The way my sophomore year ended on the field and in the classroom just left a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m a pretty sharp student – I was never valedictorian status, but I earned decent grades without really having to try. My sophomore year, I slipped a little in the classroom when we were national contenders. I put all of my focus into softball. But I should be able to recover with some extra effort, which is why I’m in the library on the first day of school.
It’s one o’clock on the first Monday of classes. I already had one class at 9 a.m. and am taking some time before my next class at 2:30 to work ahead. The library is packed, considering today is the first day. I trudge up the marble stairs to the second floor. This area houses group work rooms and individual study cubicles along the walls. There are several more cubicles scattered throughout the middle of the room, like a maze. I always pick a cubicle with a window view of the Quad. When I need a break, I to people watch as students stroll to and from class.
Focus, KK. Okay, earbuds in. My go-to station has always been sports talk radio. Live or podcasts, I can’t get enough. My dad and I used to listen to sports talk radio in the car on our trips to the Hamptons during summer vacation. Jesus, I sound pretentious. Even though I shy away from my family name, I love sports. It’s in my blood. And I loved my summers with my dad before he had to report to training camp.
I turn on today’s podcast, which is a recording from my favorite morning show. Cade Olcott, Vince Wilson, and Matt “Tree” Patrick make up the Triple Play Morning Show. They’re hilarious, and their sports analysis is spot on. It’s good stuff. Cade is talking about the Golden Knights football team. They have a legitimate shot as an underdog at a title this season. We have the best starting quarterback in the league, a top-ten defense and some players who can flat out just play. Plus, Coach Kevin Hayes has taken this program from a .500 team to a top-ten contender in the last five years. He recruits his ass off, which is how he landed Brooks McCarthy, the top high school quarterback in the country three seasons ago. Tree and Vince have a bet going over whether our team can make the playoffs. Which means they would need to be ranked in the top four in the country. Tree bet against the Golden Knights. I think he will be sorry. This fall, Saturday game days are going to be fun.
I crack open my psychology book and begin to read. I’m a sports psych major, so I need to study my ass off to get into grad school in a couple years. This semester I finally get to delve deeper into my major. I’m reading ahead in bio psych because, well, biological psychology is fascinating. Dr. Everett Bigelow is one of the best professors on campus, and I’m so excited for this class. Why our brains do what they do and how it influences our behaviors. The deeper understanding of what makes us tick. The connection between mind and body. I’ve never been able to figure out what makes me tick, other than sports and competition. I’ve always felt like something was missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.
I’m concentrating on the connection between my mind and body when a hand taps me on the shoulder and breaks my focus. My mind and body clearly aren’t connected, because the touch startles me so much I scream and almost jump out of the window I’m sitting next to. Everyone stares. Then I look up and see why. Brooks McCarthy is hovering above me. Stud quarterback and lady slayer. WTF?
“Hey, gorgeous.” The words roll off his tongue and he flashes me the brightest, whitest smile I have ever seen, complete with dimples. “I get all sorts of reactions from a lot of ladies, but that one is new.” He laughs and the sound fills my ears and sends a flutter straight to my stomach. Again, WTF?
Brooks McCarthy is known on campus for three things: 1) being insanely hot 2) being an incredible lay 3) being an even more incredible football player. He is towering at six feet, four inches tall and about 220 pounds. He’s often compared to John Kelly, yes that John Kelly, and Tom Brady. I don’t know why he chose Cambria when he could have gone to any of the perennial powerhouses in college football like Louisiana State University—where his dad played—Oklahoma, or Alabama. But he decided on Cambria, likely because of Coach Hayes and the quarterbacks coach, Tyler Reynolds. When he committed it shocked the country. He was the most highly-recruited quarterback in his class, and if he declares for the draft in the spring, he will likely be drafted in the first round.
Even though my best friend Blaire is dating his best wide receiver, Tanner Bateman, I’ve never seen him up close. Bateman and Blaire spend all of their time in her bedroom. His friends don’t come over to visit. They really don’t have a reason to. I’ve glanced at Brooks during an occasional pass-by at parties, but his body is always flanked by coeds in skimpy skirts and tube tops vying for his attention. We’ve never been face to face.
Ho. Lee. Shit. He’s a specimen of manliness. He has broad shoulders, long arms, a torso that stretches perfectly into that manly V shape, and an ass that literally makes sorority sisters scream. I’ve heard them. His muscles are flexed and I can see the outline of his pecs under his white t-shirt. His flashy smile is connected to a chiseled jawline covered with just the tiniest bit of blond stubble. His eyes are so blue at the moment they look like glacial ice. He takes off his CU basketball cap and runs a hand through his tousled, dirty blond hair.
The movement of his hand reconnects my brain to my mouth. No wonder every girl is ready to drop her panties for him – and most have, actually.
“Umm, are you talking to me?” I raise an eyebrow in question and look around the library. Seriously, WTF?
“Yeah, who else is gorgeous in here? I didn’t mean to scare you,” he states with a chuckle at my overreaction to his touch. There are dozens of other girls here. Many much prettier than me. None are wearing running shorts and a t-shirt. None have their hair in a messy bun either. I bet they actually brushed their hair this morning. Most are dressed up for the first day of school. Fancy outfits, perfect makeup, and impeccably styled hair. I don’t reply as I feel my cheeks flush.
“I was walking by and noticed your phone playing the Triple Play Morning Show. I love that show. Those guys are hilarious! I can’t believe Tree bet against us.” He shakes his head in disapproval.
“Yeah, I listen to it every day. Usually when I’m studying or lifting,” I respond, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice. I keep glancing around the room, as all eyes are on us. He doesn’t seem to mind, but I am anxious as hell. I don’t get nervous around guys. Ever. In fact, most of my friends are guys, due to our similar interests. But fuck, he caught me off guard with his gorgeousness and his smooth voice. I can’t believe I never noticed him like this before.
“I’m Brooks,” he offers with a smile. Duh. ”I’m in that class too.” He gestures toward my bio psych book.
“Nice to meet you, Brooks. I’m Kiernan,” I reply as I begin to pack up. I need to get out of here. I don't know what's happening to me. I’m starting to sweat and I feel my body doing something unfamiliar. I’m either reacting to his presence or from the female eyes drilling into my soul. Every girl in the study area is still staring at me, and I’m super uncomfortable being the center of attention anywhere but on the softball field.
“Heading out? Did I offend you somehow?” he asks. It seems I’ve caught him off-guard too. I’m assuming not many females walk away from Brooks McCarthy before he wants them to.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, no, you didn’t offend me, but yes I am leaving. I have class and then I have to get home and change before practice. It was nice to meet you. The show is great today, you should listen. And, you’re right. Tree is stupid to bet against you. I wouldn’t,” I say as I bolt out of the library faster than a roadrunner on crack.
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, KK? I scream internally. I slow down as my feet hit the pavement outside and I enter the Quad. The sunshine and wind are welcome on my face.
Breathe.
I need to get my senses back from that encounter
so I don’t appear insane to other students walking around campus. Brooks McCarthy is a little bit of heaven in the flesh, and it scares the hell out of me how my body betrayed my senses. And now I’ll be seeing him in class in less than thirty minutes. Fuck. He’s just a guy. You can be friends with a guy with who looks like a Greek statue, smells like sex on a stick, and exudes manliness from every pore in his body, right?
Sure, what could go wrong with that? Double fuckity, fuck.
Acknowledgement
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading my second book. Without you, my words are just my own. Thank you for letting me share the Cambria University world with you.
Thank you to my hubby for the love and support. I couldn’t do this without you!
Thank you to my beta-reader and BFF. I love you always! My editor for cleaning up my non-sense and my ARC readers/reviewers, a HUGE thank you. You all are amazing and I appreciate the support.
I can’t believe book 2 is complete. Jessup Rhodes is next. I hope you stick with me!
With Love,
Sadie
Redemption (Cambria University #2) Page 35